Fun, food and games filled the Michigan Union on Friday night for the University Activities Center annual Michigras event.
Packed with students and their siblings for "Siblings Weekend," the Union offered various activities such as karaoke, casino games, tarot readings, Velcro walls and other festivities for Mardi Gras.
Although Michigras has given many students something to do with there younger siblings the event was held independently from Sibling's Weekend.
"It just happened that it was on the same weekend," said UAC's Special Events Committee Chair Jennifer Lamping, an LSA sophomore.
"We had a huge turnout from Sibling's Weekend," said Special Events Committee co-Chair Marisa Brillhart, a Business senior.
Many students said they were happy to have something to do with their younger siblings.
"I'm glad they have things because I thought they'd have nothing to do," said Christine Racine, an LSA first-year student who brought her 10-year-old sister to Michigras. Racine said she had planned to hang out in her room with her sister all night.
"It was really cool seeing everyone getting a kick out of it," Lamping said.
Yet, despite huge turnout, organizers said they wished they had put more time and energy into organizing Michigras.
"I wish more planning went into it," Lamping said, adding that the committee should not have waited until January to plan Michigras.
E-mail messages and fliers attracted many students to Michigras. Even some students who were quietly studying in the Union's lounges put their books aside to join the festivities.
UAC gave organizers a budget of $5,000 to finance Michigras, Brillhart said. Other businesses were contacted to help sponsor the event.
Contacting businesses for donations was "hard to do in such a short time," Brillhart said.
Brillhart said that, overall, she was pleased the event's results, although she would have hoped for more funding.
Mardi Gras officially ended Tuesday, the day before the Christian season of Lent began.
02-22-99
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